Teamwork is the Pits

It’s been called “The greatest spectacle in the history of sports”. How’s that for a bold claim? I should think that honor would be reserved for Bicycle Basketball. However, the contest in question is none other than the Indianapolis 500. Speed, adrenaline, heat, asphalt and rubber combine in one dizzying 2.5-mile lap after another to create a scene nearly impossible not to watch! Where else do you hear phrases like, “Racers, start your engines!”, “The yellow flag is out”, or “Emerson Fittipaldi is dreamy!”. It is, to say the least, a spectacle. But this year something different caught my eye. It wasn’t the crash in the first turn of the first lap, although that was a pretty scary. It wasn’t the rookie taking the checkered flag, although that was pretty exciting. It was the pit crews. Was it just my imagination or did they seem to move at the speed of light while engaging in a dance of upgrades and repairs, checks and refills. Mere seconds separating the beginning of their automotive ballet from its dramatic conclusion. It was rhythmic and fluid, something beautiful. How could they do so much, so right, in so little time? Simple ... Teamwork. “A cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal.” (American Heritage Dictionary of the English language, 4th ed.) It is one of the foundational principles that make our nation different and greater than every other nation on the planet. It is why we are able to say, “E Pluribus Unum” (One out of many)

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12:3). Because when you do you sacrifice the efforts of the entire team on the altar of arrogance. The same holds true for those who might think their role in the efforts of the team are minimal or even unnecessary. Again Paul wrote, “If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:15).

Whether you drive or clean windshields, you are no more necessary or unnecessary than anyone else on the team “As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20). Do what God has created you to do. It’s important!